Flabelligerid worm

Flabelligera sp. 1

Taxonomy

Scientific Details

Family level description.Flabelligeridae are short-bodied grub-like worms which are usually recognisable from their conspicuous anterior "cage" of long chaetae enclosing the anterior end and a dense covering of papillae over most of the body. They also have paired grooved palps, interramal papillae and spines only in the neuropodia (ventral foot). Chaetae include pseudo-segmented capillaries and, in some taxa, compound short-bladed chaetae.

Taxonomy

General Description

In members of this genus the body is short and fusiform, the surface is smooth (almost bare of papillae) and there are more than two rows of branchiae. Body up to about 5 cm long.

Biology

There has been no taxonomic study of southern Australian Flabelligeridae since Haswell described several species in 1892, and although at least 3 genera occur in our region, the identity of local species remains uncertain.

Habitat

Inshore including bays and estuaries, on muddy bottoms, sometimes among seagrass.